WhatsApp to stop working on thousands of iPhones next month – is yours on the list?
WHATSAPP will stop working on several iPhones and Android smartphones next month.
As of February 1, users with smartphones running older versions of iOS and Android software will not be able to create new accounts or verify existing ones on the messaging app.
People using Android versions 2.3.7 or older will be affected.
The same fate will apply to users of iPhones running on iOS 8 or older.
Luckily most smartphones will still be able to download more up-to-date operating systems so users of older devices may still be able to update ahead of February 1.
Software like iOS 9 is available for iPhones from the iPhone 4s onward.
For perspective, the iPhone 4s came out back in 2011.
If you want to find out what version of an operating system you're currently using then there are easy steps you can take.
For Android users, you need to go to Settings, then click on About Phone and then Software Info.
If you're an iPhone user, you need to go to Settings, then click on General and then Software Update.
Both methods will display the current version of software you're using and should give you the option to update if you need to.
There is still plenty of time to update your phone before February 1 but Windows smartphone owners have not been as lucky.
WhatsApp stopped support for Windows phones at the end of last year.
The company released this statement: "You'll no longer be able to use all Windows Phone operating systems after December 31, 2019, and WhatsApp might not be available in the Microsoft Store after July 1, 2019."
WhatsApp – a quick history
Here's what you need to know...
- WhatsApp was created in 2009 by computer programmers Brian Acton and Jan Koum - former employees of Yahoo
- It's one of the most popular messaging services in the world
- Koum came up with the name WhatsApp because it sounded like "what's up"
- After a number of tweaks the app was released with a messaging component in June 2009, with 250,000 active users
- It was originally free but switched to a paid service to avoid growing too fast. Then in 2016, it became free again for all users
- Facebook bought WhatsApp Inc in February 2014 for $19.3billion (£14.64bn)
- The app is particularly popular because all messages are encrypted during transit, shutting out snoopers
- As of January 2018, WhatsApp has over 1.5billion users globally
TOP STORIES IN TECH
In other news, WhatsApp has confirmed that it will begin showing adverts to its 1.5billion users – and fans are not happy.
We recently summed up the WhatsApp features coming to your phone in 2020.
And, if that's not enough, here are 16 fun WhatsApp tips that will change the way you use the app forever.
Would you be lost without WhatsApp? Let us know in the comments...
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]